Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday faced a buzz saw of Republican opposition to his bid to extend a warrantless surveillance law that national security officials call crucial to their efforts to fight terrorism, after former President Donald J. Trump urged lawmakers to kill the legislation.
Republican leaders said they would plunge ahead with a midday vote to bring up the bill, which would extend a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act known as Section 702 and make modest changes.
Aides said it was possible that Republicans would yank the bill if they failed to quell the brewing revolt.
No Democrats were expected to vote to move forward on the measure — among other things, Republicans have bundled it with an unrelated resolution condemning President Biden’s border policies — so just three Republican defections would be enough to scuttle the move.
At least one hard-right member, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, has already pledged to try to tank it.
Persons:
Mike Johnson, Donald J, Trump, yank, Biden’s, Matt Gaetz
Organizations:
Wednesday, Republican, Foreign Intelligence, Republicans
Locations:
Florida